What do you get when you combine 24 gluten-free menu items with one of the most popular Chinese chain restaurants in the U.S.? Very happy celiacs. P.F. Chang's recognized the demand for gluten-free menu items long before other big restaurants hopped onboard. A spokeswoman for the chain says the gluten-free items were developed after so many customers had requested them. P.F. Chang's gluten-free menu offers 18 entrées, one dessert, and several starters. The meals are even served on special plates as proof that they were prepared away from ingredients containing the offending gluten. There are four locations in Broward and Palm Beach counties; go to pfchangs.com to find the location nearest to you.

Thankfully, chefs and their staff are now more aware than ever of the need to accommodate special requirements and tailor menus accordingly. You might come across abbreviations such as "GF" in menus to indicate safe choices, and waiters are more likely than ever to be able to tell you what you're free to order and what you should avoid. As the hospitality industry is designed to satisfy each customer, do ask whether a dish can be made to order by substituting certain ingredients with a gluten free alternative.